Irbesartan is used for:

Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines. It is also used for treating kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Irbesartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor antagonist. It works by decreasing certain chemicals in the body, which cause blood vessels to narrow and sodium and fluids to be stored in the kidneys.

Do NOT use Irbesartan if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Irbesartan
• you are pregnant and past your third month

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Irbesartan :

Some medical conditions may interact with Irbesartan. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have kidney function problems, low blood volume, or low blood sodium levels

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Irbesartan. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Lithium or potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, spironolactone) because their actions and side effects may be increased by Irbesartan

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Irbesartan may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Irbesartan :

Use Irbesartan as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Irbesartan by mouth with or without food.
• If you miss a dose of Irbesartan , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Irbesartan.

Important safety information:

• Irbesartan may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Irbesartan with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
• Irbesartan may not work as well in black patients. They may also be at greater risk of side effects. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse.
• Irbesartan should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 6 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not take Irbesartan after the third month of pregnancy. It may cause injury or death to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Irbesartan is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Irbesartan.

Possible side effects of Irbesartan :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Anxiety; chest pain; diarrhea; dizziness; flu; headache; heartburn/indigestion; muscle injury; tiredness; muscle pain; nausea; nervousness; runny nose; sinus abnormality; sore throat; stomach pain; swelling; upper respiratory tract infection; urinary tract infection; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; fast heartbeat; fainting.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.